Tullahoma, TN – Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories, LLC (GTL), an aerospace engineering research and development company, is leveraging the company’s extensive composite cryotank experience to develop a technology that would restore the structural capacity of composite structures in the event that they are damaged in the field. This work is in collaboration with Brigham Young University and is sponsored through the recently awarded NASA STTR Phase I contract entitled “Composite Repair System”.

Over the years composites have grown in popularity in the space industry due to the weight reduction and increased performance they offer over metal when used in launch vehicle components. However, composite materials are very thin and highly susceptible to damage. GTL’s first-hand experience with the delicacy of ultra-thin laminates drove the company to investigate possible repair techniques.

GTL’s composite repair system, simply referred to as the CRS, would be used to repair composite damages of various modalities and severities in many different types of composite laminates. “With any structure, there is potential for it to become damaged in the field. This is especially true for composite structures,” said GTL President, Paul Gloyer. “When damage occurs on a launch platform, it can be difficult or even impossible to perform the necessary repairs in a timely manner. The CRS will be able to perform expedited composite repairs onsite even with the minimal access provided on the launch platform.”

The project will be carried out by GTL’s composite experts who have over 30 years of experience working with composites and developed GTL’s transformational BHL™ composite cryotank technology.

Formed in 2004 from a merger of PacAstro and Aspect Engineering, GTL is headquartered in Tullahoma, TN with additional offices in California and Utah. GTL is a high-technology company that specializes in providing transformational technologies to the aerospace industry such as composite cryogenic tanks, integrated airframes, specialty structural composites, aerospace system design and analysis, combustion stability analysis, launch vehicle technologies, and advanced flywheel systems for power storage.